The Death-Blow to Spiritualism: Being the True Story of the Fox SistersDavenport, Reuben Briggs
History
The Death-Blow to Spiritualism: Being the True Story of the Fox Sisters
Davenport, Reuben Briggs
Fox, Margaret, 1833-1893; Jencken, Catherine Fox, 1836-1892; Mediums -- New York (State) -- Rochester; Spiritualism
"MR. SELLERS. Are those the shoes which you usually wear?
"The 'MEDIUM.' I wear all kinds of shoes.
"MR. SELLERS. Are the sounds produced in your room when you have no shoes
on?
"The 'MEDIUM.' More or less. They are produced under all circumstances.
"Following the suggestion of the 'medium,' all present proceed through an
intervening apartment to the library, where the 'medium' selects various
positions--standing upon a lounge, then upon a cushioned chair, next upon
a step-ladder, and finally upon the side of a book-case--but all with a
like unsuccessful result, no response by 'rappings' being heard.
"In the midst of the experiments at the table Mrs. Kane exclaimed to Mr.
Sellers: Well, my hand does feel like writing. Will you give me a piece of
paper? and, maybe they will give me some directions.
"MR. FULLERTON (to the 'medium'). How does your hand feel when affected in
that way?
"The 'MEDIUM.' It is a peculiar feeling, like that from taking hold of
electrical instruments. I do not know but that you might possibly feel it
in my hand.
"The lady here extended her right hand upon the table toward Mr.
Fullerton. The latter placed his left hand upon the extended hand of the
'medium,' and subsequently remarked that the pulsation of her wrist was a
little above the ordinary rate.
"The 'medium,' ostensibly under 'spirit' influence, with lead-pencil in
hand, proceeded to write two communications from the 'spirit' of the late
Henry Seybert. The first of these covered two pages of paper of the size
of ordinary foolscap. The 'medium' wrote in large characters, with
remarkable rapidity, and in a direction from the right to the left, or the
reverse of ordinary handwriting. The writing, consequently, could be read
only from the reverse side of the paper, and by being held up so as to
permit the gaslight to shine through it.
"The communications, as deciphered by Mr. Sellers, with the aid of Mr.
Fullerton and the 'medium,' were as follows:
"You must not expect that I can satisfy you beyond all doubt in so
short a time as you have yet had. I want to give you all in my power,
and will do so if you will give me a chance. You must commence right
in the first place or you shall all be disappointed for a much longer
time. _Princiipis Obsta Sereo Medicina Paratum._
"HENRY SEYBERT.
"Mend the fault in time or we will all be puzzled.
"HENRY SEYBERT."
The fault in the Latin of the above quotation attracted the attention of
the Commission.
Mr. George S. Pepper, who had been well acquainted with Mr. Seybert in his
lifetime, declared that he had never known any Latin at all!
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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